It’s widely known that Iceland is home to some of the most stunning, foreign, and magical landscapes on the planet. With rolling lava fields, sky-high glaciers, majestic waterfalls, and the elusive northern lights, this tiny country is packed with sights to see. Below, I’ve compiled a list of some of the my absolute favorite experiences.

Iceland Itinerary:

1. SOLHEIMAJOKULL GLACIER HIKE

2. LANDBROTALAUG HOT SPRING

3. ICELANDIC PONIES

4. FJADRARGLJUFUR CANYON

5. REYNISFJARA BEACH (VIK)

6. TJORNIN POND

7. NORTHERN LIGHTS

SOLHEIMAJOKULL GLACIER HIKE

One of my favorite memories of Iceland was our hike across Sólheimajökull glacier. Our feet were strapped with crampons so we could balance on the slick surface, while an ice pick swung at our sides for a climb near the end. We were a varied group of travelers hiking together for hours in the cold. After we made our way across the expansive surface, our glacier guide, an Icelandic man named Floki with a scraggly blonde beard, connected us to ropes to help us begin our ascent up the glacier wall.

It was so frigid, that my fingers were nearly entirely numb. When it was my turn to go up the wall, I swung my pick with such difficulty that the lack of force behind it ricocheted my pick back towards me. I swung again, desperately trying to get hold of the ice. Four more swings. It finally caught. I dug my steel-toed shoe into the wall and hoisted myself up further, both anxious from my fear of heights and also from the impatient eyes beneath me waiting for their turn to go up. I had chosen the more difficult course, causing me to hurdle over a part of ice wall that jutted out, but alas I made it.

In an amateur move on my part, I had forgotten to bring any water and the hike had taken its toll on me near the end. Thankfully, the pools of water on the glacier were pristine and our guide said I could cup my hands together and drink right off of the surface.  What an experience!

LANDBROTALAUG HOT SPRING

If you’re going up to Snaefellsnes Peninsula to see the iconic Kirkjufell, you can make the stop by pretty easily. It’s off the main road a bit and there’s no changing room, so keep that in mind. The hot spring has a stunning view of the mountains off in the distance and it was pleasantly hot. We came later in the evening and there was just one other couple out there with us so it felt like we stumbled upon some forgotten treasure.

ICELANDIC PONIES

A road trip around Iceland isn’t complete with at least 10 unplanned stops along the way. There are so many incredible things to see and Icelandic ponies definitely make that list. These stalky little guys have long, angsty-looking bangs that give them such a lovably Fall Out Boy look. We found a group of them right up next to the fence and pulled off to say “hi”. The ponies I’ve encountered are quite friendly and will come right up, allowing you to pet them. If you stay and observe awhile, you might see them prancing across the fields which is truly enchanting to behold.

FJADRARGLJUFUR CANYON

Normally, you’re supposed to be able to drive right up to it, but there were some warnings about melting ice so the road was blocked off. The walk up from our parking spot was about 20 minutes, but once we arrived, the canyon looked something straight out of a fairytale. With its steep sides, deep turquoise waters, and whimsically winding stream, it’s something that will be etched in my memory forever.

REYNISFJARA BEACH (VIK)

To see to the infamous black sands of Iceland, you’ll want to stop by this exact beach in the town of Vik. It gets pretty crowded, as you’d probably imagine, but even still I was able to admire the precise, geometric perfection from inside the towering cave. The sands are charcoal black, the majestic basalt formations a stormy gray, and the ocean washing up on the shore a milky white, all creating a truly breathtaking scene all together. While there, be sure to look out for the other attraction nearby called Dryholaey (pronounced “deer- ho- lie”).

TJORNIN POND

Sit by this gathering spot in Reykjavik and watch the swans.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

A lot of people come expecting to see the northern lights, but don’t realize that they can be quite elusive actually. There are some tools to keep in mind, however, that can improve your chances of catching a view. During our first trip here, we only saw them for a total of about five minutes. The first time, we drove out near Pingvellir to escape the city lights, but the cloud coverage was pretty heavy still even in October. We did see them peak out for a few minutes and we were absolutely ecstatic about it. Massive green ribbons moved lethargically against the inky night sky. But as soon as we saw them, they were swept away by ominous clouds which then poured an intense rain shower after. The second time we saw them was right outside our hostel, Kex. They flickered pink and green and purple, but only lasted about two minutes in total before also getting swept up by clouds again. The magic combination for seeing the northern lights is dark skies and minimal cloud coverage; even small solar activity will show in clear, dark skies, so they don’t need to be all that intense. I found the following sites to be super helpful in tracking them down:

• Weekly map of solar activity: http://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/

• General trends for seeing the lights: https://www.northernlightsiceland.com/the-best-time-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-iceland-2/

It takes some patience, but the wait is worth it. I remember actually jumping for joy and squealing the few minutes we managed to see them. It was one of the most magical things I’ve seen to date! Earth is pretty incredible, huh?